The St James police are reporting a reduction in major crimes since the start of the year, compared to 2011.

Commanding Officer for the division, Superintendent Andrew Lewis,said crimes such as murders, shootings, rapes, robberies, break-ins, larceny and cases of persons having sex with a child under age 16 have decreased by an overall 24 per cent.

He said up to Monday, there were 706 cases of those major crimes, compared to 932 up to November 19, 2011.

Superintendent Lewis said cases of rape stand at 80 to date both for this year and the last.

He said while statistics show a jump in cases of sex with a person under age 16, he credits that to an increase in the number of reports.

Superintendent Lewis believes a recent public education campaign and intensified community policing have contributed to the number of persons, who now feel safe to report sexual abuse.

He said the St James police have also intensified efforts to fight crimes for profit such as the lottery scam.